It takes an enormous amount of energy and resources to produce simple building materials such as concrete, bricks, and asphalt – however Ginger Krieg Dosier has developed a low-impact way to simply grow building blocks instead! Her award-winning company Biomason recently received 500,000 EUR (about $560,000 USD) from the 2013 Postcode Lottery Green Challenge to continue the groundbreaking work of producing bricks from sand and bacteria.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/award-winning-biomason-grows-bricks-from-sand-and-bacteria-to-reduce-co2-emissions/feed/1LeftoverSwap is an App that Lets You Share Unwanted Foodhttp://inhabitat.com/leftoverswap-is-an-app-that-lets-you-share-unwanted-food/
http://inhabitat.com/leftoverswap-is-an-app-that-lets-you-share-unwanted-food/#commentsSun, 22 Feb 2015 15:15:44 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=557047No matter how valiant the attempt, sometimes it is just impossible to finish that last helping of casserole for dinner. Instead of letting perfectly good food languish in the fridge, the developers of LeftoverSwap suggest sharing your leftovers with a member]]>

No matter how valiant the attempt, sometimes it is just impossible to finish that last helping of casserole for dinner. Instead of letting perfectly good food languish in the fridge, the developers of LeftoverSwap suggest sharing your leftovers with a member of the community. The smartphone application allows users to take a picture of their dish, identify what is on the plate, and arrange for pickup and delivery.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/leftoverswap-is-an-app-that-lets-you-share-unwanted-food/feed/0Hankook’s Revolutionary Airless i-Flex Tire is Puncture-Proof and 95% Recyclablehttp://inhabitat.com/the-airless-i-flex-tire-from-hankook-is-puncture-proof-and-95-recyclable/
http://inhabitat.com/the-airless-i-flex-tire-from-hankook-is-puncture-proof-and-95-recyclable/#commentsSat, 21 Feb 2015 20:00:01 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=556770Unlike the automobile, the pneumatic car tire has undergone little innovation over the past 100 years. Now Korean manufacturer Hankook is giving the humble wheel a makeover with the i-Flex, an airless tire that is light, puncture-proof, and made from 95% recyclable]]>

Unlike the automobile, the pneumatic car tire has undergone little innovation over the past 100 years. Now Korean manufacturer Hankook is giving the humble wheel a makeover with the i-Flex, an airless tire that is light, puncture-proof, and made from 95% recyclable materials!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/the-airless-i-flex-tire-from-hankook-is-puncture-proof-and-95-recyclable/feed/021 Ethical Lingerie Gifts for an Unforgettable Valentine’s Dayhttp://inhabitat.com/21-ethical-lingerie-gifts-for-an-unforgettable-valentines-day/
http://inhabitat.com/21-ethical-lingerie-gifts-for-an-unforgettable-valentines-day/#commentsMon, 09 Feb 2015 15:30:02 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=613817This Valentine's Day, there should be other things on your mind than the sustainable pedigree of your lingerie. Take a look at 21 guilt-free and incredibly sexy ideas for the holiday and show a little love to the planet and your sweetheart. Best of all, these]]>

This Valentine’s Day, there should be other things on your mind than the sustainable pedigree of your lingerie. Take a look at 21 guilt-free and incredibly sexy ideas for the holiday, and show a little love to the planet and your sweetheart. Best of all, these undies can be worn for romance all year-round!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/21-ethical-lingerie-gifts-for-an-unforgettable-valentines-day/feed/0Redditor Builds Incredible Hobbit Hole Camper Trailer From Scratch!http://inhabitat.com/redditer-builds-incredible-hobbit-hole-camper-trailer-from-scratch/
http://inhabitat.com/redditer-builds-incredible-hobbit-hole-camper-trailer-from-scratch/#commentsSat, 03 Jan 2015 14:17:17 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=541381Most hobbits seem to be the stay-at-hole types - but there are a few who yearn for adventure. Redditor Samm1t has built an amazing hobbit hole camping trailer to take all the comforts of home with him as he embarks on his travels. Starting from scratch, the]]>

Most hobbits seem to be the stay-at-hole types – but there are a few who yearn for adventure. Redditor Samm1t has built an amazing hobbit holecamping trailer to take all the comforts of home with him as he embarks on his travels. Starting from scratch, the whole trailer took two months cost a little over $2,000 to construct. The 46″x78″, 4′ tall camper features a lovely round door, a faux grass roof, LED light bulbs, and a removable mattress – and it even has custom cabinetry and a spice rack.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/redditer-builds-incredible-hobbit-hole-camper-trailer-from-scratch/feed/1Christmas Trees Could Be Used To Help Sterilize Medical Deviceshttp://inhabitat.com/christmas-trees-could-be-used-to-help-sterilize-medical-devices/
http://inhabitat.com/christmas-trees-could-be-used-to-help-sterilize-medical-devices/#commentsSat, 29 Nov 2014 17:20:22 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=472300Photo via Shutterstock
After the holidays wind down, millions of Christmas trees across the country will be headed to the landfill or the wood chipper. But not so fast! That stately conifer could be put to good use in the field of medicine. A paper published]]>Photo via Shutterstock

After the holidays wind down, millions of Christmas trees across the country will be headed to the landfill or the wood chipper. But not so fast! That stately conifer could be put to good use in the field of medicine. A paper published in the International Journal of Biomedical Nanoscience and Nanotechnologyshow evidence that the needles of Pseudotsuga menziesii, aka the Douglas fir, may be able to help sterilize nano devices destined for the human body.

Meet a next-generation scientist making the next generation of biofuel. 17-year-old Sara Volz invented a process that increases the amount of biofuel produced by algae to win this year’s Intel Science Talent Search. The Colorado Springs student claimed the $100,000 grand prize with her project, which uses artificial selection to pinpoint which organisms are churning out the most fuel. This new method not only helps to bring down the overall cost of algae biofuel, but it was developed primarily in her bedroom under a lofted bed!

]]>http://inhabitat.com/17-year-old-intel-science-talent-search-winner-builds-algae-biofuel-lab-in-her-bedroom/feed/9Jenga-Like Bamboo PixelTable Can be Pushed or Pulled to Create Storage Spacehttp://inhabitat.com/jenga-like-bamboo-pixeltable-can-be-pushed-or-pulled-to-create-storage-space/
http://inhabitat.com/jenga-like-bamboo-pixeltable-can-be-pushed-or-pulled-to-create-storage-space/#commentsSat, 11 Oct 2014 16:03:42 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=414573Need more shelf space? A cupboard? A table? The Jenga-like PixelTable from Studio Intussen can be transformed into a variety of furnishings to suit your needs. The 45 x 45 x 45 cm cube is composed of eco-friendly bamboo slats which can be pushed or pulled]]>

Need more shelf space? A cupboard? A table? The Jenga-like PixelTable from Studio Intussen can be transformed into a variety of furnishings to suit your needs. The 45 x 45 x 45 cm cube is composed of eco-friendly bamboo slats which can be pushed or pulled to create spaces for storing objects and flat surfaces for shelving.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/jenga-like-bamboo-pixeltable-can-be-pushed-or-pulled-to-create-storage-space/feed/0Triangle Tree’s Edible Spoons Are a Tasty Alternative to Plastic Utensilshttp://inhabitat.com/triangle-trees-edible-spoons-are-a-tasty-alternative-to-plastic-utensils/
http://inhabitat.com/triangle-trees-edible-spoons-are-a-tasty-alternative-to-plastic-utensils/#commentsSun, 28 Sep 2014 17:30:58 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=505894In an effort to create an alternative to disposable plastic silverware, Triangle Tree has produced Edible Spoons, a spoon that you can eat after finishing your meal. Made of corn, the spoons are biodegradable and can either be composted or consumed. The Edible]]>

In an effort to create an alternative to disposable plastic silverware, Triangle Tree has produced Edible Spoons, a spoon that you can eat after finishing your meal. Made of corn, the spoons are biodegradable and can either be composted or consumed. The Edible Spoon is also designed to break apart after use to make snacking easier. Created with all organic ingredients, the spoon comes in three flavors (plain, spicy, or sweet), and can act as a novel snack or an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum products.

As fruit, bananas are perfectly packaged – all the protection they need is provided by their flexible, resilient peels. As then-sixteen-year-old Turkish student Elif Bilgin discovered, the starches and cellulose contained in their outer layer can also be used to create materials that insulate wires and form medical protheses. Bilgin developed a chemical process that turns the peels into a non-decaying bioplastic that she hopes will help replace the need for petroleum and combat pollution. Bilgin’s endeavors won her the top prize and $50,000 at the Scientific American Science in Action competition, as well as the honor of becoming a finalist in the Google Science Fair 2013.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/sixteen-year-old-student-from-turkey-turns-banana-peels-into-bioplastic/feed/6Amputee Builds the World’s First Prosthetic Leg Made from LEGOshttp://inhabitat.com/amputee-builds-herself-the-worlds-first-prosthetic-leg-made-from-legos/
http://inhabitat.com/amputee-builds-herself-the-worlds-first-prosthetic-leg-made-from-legos/#commentsSat, 27 Sep 2014 06:14:52 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=529874Sure, building a space ship or Ewok village out of LEGOs is and admirable effort, but what about fashioning your own prosthetic limb? Intrepid occupational therapist Christina Stephens (aka Amputee OT) has assembled her own leg out of the little plastic bricks.]]>

Sure, building a space ship or Ewok village out of LEGOs is and admirable effort, but what about fashioning your own prosthetic limb? Intrepid occupational therapist Christina Stephens (aka Amputee OT) has assembled her own leg out of the little plastic bricks. The project came as a result of a co-worker at her research lab joking that she create a leg from LEGOs. Using her own prosthetic as a model, she rifled through two giant boxes of LEGOs to find the perfect pieces to construct her “Legoleg.” While not quite functional, her new extremity is an excellent representation of her great sense of humor and outlook on healing.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/amputee-builds-herself-the-worlds-first-prosthetic-leg-made-from-legos/feed/1The SkyHouse Features a 50-Foot Climbing Wall and 80-Foot Spiraling Slide in This NYC Penthousehttp://inhabitat.com/the-skyhouse-features-a-50-foot-climbing-wall-and-80-foot-spiraling-slide-in-this-nyc-penthouse/
http://inhabitat.com/the-skyhouse-features-a-50-foot-climbing-wall-and-80-foot-spiraling-slide-in-this-nyc-penthouse/#commentsSun, 07 Sep 2014 14:33:18 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=555735There are some people who have so much energy they can practically climb the walls. The SkyHouse, designed by David Hotson must be meant for those folks. The amazing four story abode features a 50-foot climbing wall and an 80-foot stainless steel slide that]]>

There are some people who have so much energy they can practically climb the walls. The SkyHouse, designed by David Hotson must be meant for those folks. The amazing four story abode features a 50-foot climbing wall and an 80-foot stainless steel slide that winds its way around the columns. The vertical lines in the SkyHouse are beautifully accented by the organic, spiraling slide, and its vaulted ceilings carve out rooms and platforms for viewing the city outside.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/miniature-star-wars-terrariums-bring-far-away-galaxies-into-your-home/feed/0Crazy Fliz Bike Trades Pedals for Foot Powerhttp://inhabitat.com/the-fliz-concept-bike-trades-pedals-for-foot-power/
http://inhabitat.com/the-fliz-concept-bike-trades-pedals-for-foot-power/#commentsWed, 18 Jun 2014 18:40:48 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=431805Without pedals, gears, or a saddle, should the Fliz Bike be considered a bicycle at all? Part hang-glider, part Rube Goldberg device, the Fliz is composed of a lightweight frame that uses a harness to suspend the rider in between a set of wheels. Based on]]>

Without pedals, gears, or a saddle, should the Fliz Bike be considered a bicycle at all? Part hang-glider, part Rube Goldberg device, the Fliz is composed of a lightweight frame that uses a harness to suspend the rider in between a set of wheels. Based on the concept of a velocipede, the German prototype was created to to encourage more cycling within an urban environment.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/the-fliz-concept-bike-trades-pedals-for-foot-power/feed/18Multijunction Solar Cells Break Efficiency Records by Harvesting the Full Spectrum of Lighthttp://inhabitat.com/multijunction-solar-cells-break-efficiency-records-by-harvesting-the-full-spectrum-of-light/
http://inhabitat.com/multijunction-solar-cells-break-efficiency-records-by-harvesting-the-full-spectrum-of-light/#commentsMon, 02 Jun 2014 21:01:47 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=644368Engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new type of solar cell that uses multiple junctions instead of single subcells to gather the full spectrum of light. The panels are able to capture different wavelengths of sunlight,]]>

Engineers from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have developed a new type of solar cell that uses multiple junctions instead of single subcells to gather the full spectrum of light. The panels are able to capture different wavelengths of sunlight, so they can achieve power conversion efficiencies of 44% as compared to the 29% of standard panels.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/multijunction-solar-cells-break-efficiency-records-by-harvesting-the-full-spectrum-of-light/feed/4UK Architect Transforms Decrepit Public Bathroom Into Incredible Private Homehttp://inhabitat.com/uk-architect-transforms-decrepit-public-bathroom-into-incredible-private-home/
http://inhabitat.com/uk-architect-transforms-decrepit-public-bathroom-into-incredible-private-home/#commentsSun, 01 Jun 2014 17:15:14 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=536850Clark first discovered the lavatories back in 2005. Having just completed a degree at the Glasgow School of Art, the young architect was looking for a unique challenge. "For me that’s about saving sites with an interesting history, but which have been abandoned]]>

]]>http://inhabitat.com/uk-architect-transforms-decrepit-public-bathroom-into-incredible-private-home/feed/4Harvard Scientists Create Super Strong Degradable Bioplastic from Shrimp Shellshttp://inhabitat.com/harvard-scientists-create-super-strong-degradable-bioplastic-from-shrimp-shells/
http://inhabitat.com/harvard-scientists-create-super-strong-degradable-bioplastic-from-shrimp-shells/#commentsFri, 09 May 2014 20:49:00 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=646452Thanks to a team of Harvard scientists, being called a "shrimp" will no longer amount to an insult. The University's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering isolated chitin in the arthropod's exoskeleton to make chitosan, a super tough polysaccharide]]>

Thanks to a team of Harvard scientists, being called a “shrimp” will no longer amount to an insult. The University’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering isolated chitin in the arthropod’s exoskeleton to make chitosan, a super tough polysaccharide that can be derived from the tons of crustacean shells discarded each year. Strong and easily made into 3D forms using injection molding or casting techniques, the final product dubbed “shrilk” can break down into the environment after two weeks and release nutrients that feed plants at the same time.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/harvard-scientists-create-super-strong-degradable-bioplastic-from-shrimp-shells/feed/1Solar Cell Breakthrough Replaces Harmful Lead With Less Expensive Tinhttp://inhabitat.com/cutting-edge-technology-uses-tin-to-replace-lead-in-new-breed-of-solar-cells/
http://inhabitat.com/cutting-edge-technology-uses-tin-to-replace-lead-in-new-breed-of-solar-cells/#commentsTue, 06 May 2014 21:09:22 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=645515Researchers at Northwestern University just unveiled a new solar cell that can be manufactured for less money using fewer harmful elements. Inorganic chemist Mercouri G. Kanatzidis and Robert P. H. Chang collaborated to create a perovskite crystal solar panel]]>

Researchers at Northwestern University just unveiled a new solar cell that can be manufactured for less money using fewer harmful elements. Inorganic chemist Mercouri G. Kanatzidis and Robert P. H. Chang collaborated to create a perovskite crystal solar panel that replaces harmful lead with tin – a less expensive and more environmentally friendly material.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/cutting-edge-technology-uses-tin-to-replace-lead-in-new-breed-of-solar-cells/feed/0Scientists Harness the Power of 3D Printers in the Battle to Cure Cancerhttp://inhabitat.com/scientists-harness-the-power-of-3d-printers-in-the-battle-to-cure-cancer/
http://inhabitat.com/scientists-harness-the-power-of-3d-printers-in-the-battle-to-cure-cancer/#commentsThu, 01 May 2014 21:01:52 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=643189The fight to cure cancer exists in a three-dimensional world, but up until now scientists have had to make do with testing therapies in the flatlands of a petri dish. Now a team from Drexel University led by Prof. Wei Sun has created 3D prototypes of tumors]]>

The fight to cure cancer exists in a three-dimensional world, but up until now scientists have had to make do with testing therapies in the flatlands of a petri dish. Now a team from Drexel University led by Prof. Wei Sun has created 3D prototypes of tumors using additive manufacturing 3D printers. This allows researchers to bypass the two-dimensional stage and focus on tumors that not only use real cancer cells, but behave more like the real beast.

]]>http://inhabitat.com/scientists-harness-the-power-of-3d-printers-in-the-battle-to-cure-cancer/feed/0Hand-Powered Golden Goose Gadget Scrambles Eggs Without Breaking the Shellhttp://inhabitat.com/hand-powered-golden-goose-gadget-scrambles-eggs-without-breaking-the-shell/
http://inhabitat.com/hand-powered-golden-goose-gadget-scrambles-eggs-without-breaking-the-shell/#commentsWed, 30 Apr 2014 18:30:20 +0000http://inhabitat.com/?p=643888To achieve the perfect egg, chefs and amateur cooks often labor with spatulas, forks, whisks and a host of other utensils. So inventor Geraint Krumpe of Y Line Product Design envisioned a much simpler, faster way to create a stress-free scramble with the Golden]]>

To achieve the perfect egg, chefs and amateur cooks often labor with spatulas, forks, whisks and a host of other utensils. So inventor Geraint Krumpe of Y Line Product Design envisioned a much simpler, faster way to create a stress-free scramble with the Golden Goose. The hand-powered gadget uses centrifugal force to mix the contents of the egg inside the shell without introducing outside air. Once suitably jostled, the egg is ready to be boiled, or dropped into a pan.